Abstract

Gut microbial induction of host immune maturation exemplifies host-microbe mutualism. We colonized germ-free (GF) mice with mouse microbiota (MMb) or human microbiota (HMb) to determine whether small intestinal immune maturation depends on a coevolved host-specific microbiota. Gut bacterial numbers and phylum abundance were similar in MMb and HMb mice, but bacterial species differed, especially the Firmicutes. HMb mouse intestines had low levels of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, few proliferating T cells, few dendritic cells, and low antimicrobial peptide expression--all characteristics of GF mice. Rat microbiota also failed to fully expand intestinal T cell numbers in mice. Colonizing GF or HMb mice with mouse-segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) partially restored T cell numbers, suggesting that SFB and other MMb organisms are required for full immune maturation in mice. Importantly, MMb conferred better protection against Salmonella infection than HMb. A host-specific microbiota appears to be critical for a healthy immune system.

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Publisher Full Text

Authors

Chung H, Pamp SJ, Hill JA, Surana NK, Edelman SM, Troy EB, Reading NC, Villablanca EJ, Wang S, Mora JR, Umesaki Y, Mathis D, Benoist C, Relman DA, Kasper DL

Institution

Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Source

Cell 149:7 2012 Jun 22 pg 1578-93

MeSH

Animals
Bacteria
Cell Proliferation
Female
Germ-Free Life
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Intestines
Male
Metagenome
Mice
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Salmonella Infections
Species Specificity
Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
Symbiosis
T-Lymphocytes

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22726443